Day 1 of the RORC Nelson’s Cup presented contrasting conditions, with squally weather in the morning morphing into sunny sailing by afternoon. The first race featured a heavy rain squall that disrupted the easterly breeze, while the second race enjoyed classic Antiguan sunshine with approximately 14 knots of wind.
The Maxi class faced challenging conditions with courses spanning roughly 14 nautical miles, while IRC Two had shorter configurations. Karel Komarek’s Maxi V initially led Race 1 but faced misfortune when their spinnaker ripped, allowing Chris Flowers’ Galateia to capitalize on this error and claim the win on corrected time.
Race 2 saw Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 respond decisively, finishing ahead of Galateia, with Maxi V just 13 seconds behind Galateia after IRC correction. Tactician Chris Nicholson noted the unexpected squall in Race 1 forced them to focus on maintaining the boat rather than optimal race strategy due to a significant wind shift.
In the IRC Maxi class standings, Galateia was briefly in the lead but faced disqualification from Race 2 due to a protest from Maxi V. Consequently, Leopard 3 is now leading the class, with Balthasar and Deep Blue following.
The IRC Zero class saw Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán narrowly win Race 1 against James Neville’s Ino Noir by just nine seconds. In Race 2, Daguet 5 took the lead, reversing the order seen in the first race, leading Rán and Ino Noir in a tightly contested competition.
The IRC One category saw consistency rewarded, with Bruce Chafee’s Rikki taking both races, while Jim Voss’s Warthog and Woody Cullen’s WaveWalker exchanged podium finishes throughout the day. Rikki’s clean manoeuvres have secured her position at the top of the leaderboard.
In the IRC Two class, Sam and Andrew Hall’s Jackknife dominated both races, outpacing competitors with commanding leads. Jackknife’s strategy centred on maintaining speed and enjoying the conditions, achieving nearly a nine-minute win in the second race.
Throughout the day, the variable conditions and tactical execution proved critical as sailors navigated the challenges presented by shifting winds and weather patterns. With racing continuing on 18 February, the stakes will only rise as teams adapt to the evolving conditions in pursuit of the coveted Nelson’s Cup.
For more information regarding the ongoing series, visit https://caribbean600.rorc.org/.
@RoyalOceanRacingClub #RORCracing #Sailing #NelsonsCup #Antigua
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
